Comments by "flagmichael" (@flagmichael) on "Should you clean your Throttle Body and How to clean it on Toyotas" video.

  1. Oh - a reminder that this applies only to the Toyota family of vehicles. I was once the unfortunate owner of a 1985 turbo Volvo. The Volvo system resulted in oil mist being inhaled ahead of the turbo (not a defect, just a characteristic of the design). Every October the engine would start once, then die, then start and keep running. The Volvo gurus clued me in to the massive glop in the throttle body and Idle Air Control Valve and, just as they said, it took half a can of throttle body cleaner to clean it all out and get it running reliably for the season - or until there was another failure. I like my Toyotas much better!
    12
  2. If my Tesla would need repair that does not fall in the extremely limited DIY range, it would have to be flat-bedded 150 miles to the nearest authorized service center. Then I would have to get a ride down there when it was ready. My Toyota takes very little effort on my part - mostly oil and fluid services - to avoid the hassle and expense.
    5
  3. My son now has my early-2002 Prius. In that era the hybrid ECU didn't allow much time for the engine to start and if the throttle body is not cleaned every summer the first cold autumn morning would often produce the Red Triangle of Death!!! (Sorry - it is such a cool name for an ordinary warning symbol.) The engine sounds like it is starting but it isn't - it is just being spun by MG1. Later in 2002 the hybrid (?) ECU was modified to increase the crank time, but without replacement (at $1600) the early one still complains. Simple solution: clean the throttle body every year. I presume the Miller cycle engine is responsible for much of the "dirt." I'm sure it burps traces of soot into the intake at the beginning of each compression stroke, as the intake valve is held open to tame the high mechanical compression ratio.
    3
  4. I fear throttle by wire is here to stay. It is the only way of limiting odd throttle movements that degrade emission control.
    2